After a few months of piddling around, Theo Epstein is on the verge of making a move that should make Cubs fans happy.

The club's new president of baseball operations is about to rid the team of troubled starter Carlos Zambrano, according to reports. The Marlins will acquire him for pitcher Chris Volstad, pending physicals and MLB approval.

Cubs management signaled its willingness to deal Carlos Zambrano well before news of a possible trade to the Marlins. (AP Photo)

Waiving his no-trade clause would not seem to be much of a deterrent for Zambrano, who must realize that a return to Wrigley Field would not be welcomed. In Miami, Zambrano would be united with fellow Venezuelan and new Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen.

Zambrano, 30, would be joining a team that is moving into a new ballpark and spending money like it plans to contend in 2012. The Cubs, meanwhile, seem focused on rebuilding in Epstein's first season.

Who the Cubs are receiving in return and how much of Zambrano's $18 million salary the club is eating (about $15 million) doesn't much matter. To truly move forward with his new team, Epstein knew he needed to move Zambrano.

Since meeting with the big right-hander before the winter meetings, Epstein had been understandably coy on his future with the club. But in a radio Q&A with listeners on Wednesday morning, Epstein admitted the status quo would not work on his watch.

"The Carlos Zambrano of 2011 and years previous can't fit into the culture that we have here," Epstein said. "Change needs to happen, and change will happen. Either he'll change and buy in and fit into this culture—and I understand there are a lot of skeptics around about that, and I understand that, and frankly, I'm skeptical as well."